Ocean County continues to lead New Jersey in population growth, adding more residents than any other county in the state between 2020 and 2025, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

The county grew by 36,418 residents, a 5.7% increase, the largest percentage gain among New Jersey’s 21 counties over the five-year period, based on Census data. The surge far outpaced the statewide growth rate of about 2.5%.

By comparison, other large counties such as Bergen and Middlesex posted gains of roughly 2% to 2.3%, underscoring Ocean County’s outsized role in the state’s population expansion.

Overall, New Jersey added about 262,900 residents since 2020, continuing a broader upward trend that has pushed the state’s population to record levels.

Ocean County’s total population has climbed steadily since the last decennial census, rising from about 637,000 in 2020 to more than 673,000 by 2025.

The latest Census data also shows that Ocean County added more than 5,300 residents between July 2024 and July 2025 alone, one of the largest single-year increases in the state, likely aided by Lakewood’s skyrocketing birth rate.

Growth in the county has been driven by a combination of factors, including natural population increases and migration. While New Jersey overall experienced significant domestic outmigration over the five-year period, that was offset by strong international migration and steady birth rates, according to the Census estimates.

Ocean County, part of the Jersey Shore region and anchored by municipalities such as Lakewood, Toms River and Jackson, has been among the fastest-growing areas in the state for more than a decade.